Thirty Times Down (Fish River Guide)
For many hikers, the Fish River Canyon is a dream. A place of raw beauty, silence, heat and grit. Thirty Times Down brings the experience to life with clear guidance, honest trail notes and practical advice gathered over more than a decade of canyon hiking. From choosing the right gear to navigating boulder fields, understanding water levels and pacing your days. This book is designed to help you feel prepared long before your boots touch the sand! Packed with accurate GPS-based data, route markers, condition insights and essential safety and planning guidance, its a reliable companion for both the independent hiker and guided groups.
With over 30 hikes of the Fish River Canyon under his belt, hiking guide Eric McLaren delivers a definitive guide for anyone wishing to hike this iconic trail. In this book, Eric has poured his own experience, as well as that from getting inexperienced and experiences hikers successfully through this multiday journey, into this useful guide.
This book is a 128-page, full-colour publication that is a bit larger than A5. It includes a detailed 6-day route guide with maps outlining Eric's preferred line. A Distance Matrix pullout shows 27 key points in the canyon, including popular shade trees, together with the stories behind many sites. All images are real photos of real hikers, real moments, and real canyon memories.
"This project is my way of giving back; to the canyon, to future hikers, and to everyone who has fallen in love with this incredible place. From my first hike in 2014 (when I said “never again!”) to now, the canyon has become part of who I am," he says.
Eric's guide to the Fish River Canyon hiking trail covers preparation, logistics, fitness expectations, pack weight, safety considerations, and real-world insights gained on the trail. It is the ultimate travel companion for those planning to hike the Fish River Canyon trail, while also offering an engaging and reflective read for hikers who have already completed the route.